“Blake Schwartz likes learning new ways to fix things,” said Julie Schirmer, McElroy’s residential HVAC service representative. “He enjoys unusual HVAC service calls so he can find solutions to problems he hasn’t seen before. Blake also has great relationships with our customers. Many of them insist on Blake as their technician and will wait until he’s available.” Blake Schwartz, McElroy’s residential HVAC service technician, is on a quest for solutions which he is glad to put to use for our customers, and share with his peers! We’re happy to celebrate Blake’s 10th anniversary with McElroy’s on November 7, 2026.

Education and Early Jobs

Blake is a Topeka native who was active in sports at Topeka High, playing baseball, basketball and soccer for the Trojans. After graduation, Blake attended Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina on a soccer scholarship. “I thought about being a Phys-Ed teacher and a coach, but after two years I came back to Topeka to work full time,” Blake said. “I did second shift in the Frito-Lay warehouse for a few years, and then two more years in the Bimbo warehouse. In 2015, my first daughter, Annastyn, was born and I wanted a career with better hours, pay and stability.”

Getting into HVAC

Blake got a daytime job with Coca-Cola and began taking night classes to learn HVAC through Wichita Technical Institute, earning his HVAC Certification in a year. “The heating and air trade was interesting and rewarding for me, and I enjoyed my classes,” Blake said. “Before I graduated, I applied at a variety of places, including the McElroy’s HVAC service department. McElroy’s called me in, the interview went well, and I had a position lined up ahead of time. School does a great job teaching about concepts, but I learn best by doing. I felt lucky to get onto the McElroy’s team and learn from the best in the field.”

McElroy’s Apprentice

“As an apprentice, Blake rode with me for a full furnace season and part of the following cooling season,” said Kirk York, a 22-year veteran of the McElroy’s residential and commercial HVAC teams. “At first I thought of Blake as just an extra pair of hands, but he was incredibly willing to learn everything he could. He spent time at home looking things up in manuals and online, and showed up every day with a great attitude. He advanced so quickly that Greg Hunsicker, McElroy’s residential HVAC leader, trusted Blake with a van of his own after only a year.”

Getting and Giving Support

“At first, it was intimidating going out on residential HVAC service calls by myself,” Blake said. “If I needed help, though, I could always call on the more experienced McElroy’s techs for answers. If necessary, someone would come out to help make sure we solved the issue correctly. That’s a key part of McElroy’s culture, going back to the beginning. Everyone wants to do things the right way, and hold each other accountable with professionalism and craftsmanship. The more I learn, the more I want to help the younger, newer techs to do their best.”

Mentor

“Blake taught me how to be patient and approach an HVAC challenge with a fresh mindset,” said Zach Brinker, McElroy’s residential HVAC service technician. “I learned to walk through the problem step by step and not jump to conclusions. I’ve been here over six years, but there are still times I’ll give Blake a call to answer a question. He never acts like he’s too busy to help. Blake is an excellent role model for the McElroy’s way, and he’s a super mentor for anyone to learn from.”

Commercial Construction

When things on the residential side slow down for a while, Blake’s skills are often called for on McElroy’s commercial construction side. “I enjoy serving residential customers because it’s something different every day, and it’s rewarding to solve their heating or A/C issues then and there,” Blake said. “I also like commercial construction because the challenges are bigger and you work on something for days or weeks at a time. It’s fun to complete a big commercial job and step back to view your work. It’s also team oriented, and everyone on the crew encourages each other to do clean, expert craftsmanship. I enjoy the professional camaraderie.”

Kate and the Girls

Blake’s wife, Kate, is a supervisor for the Kansas Department of Revenue. Their daughter, Frankie, is 5 and Annastyn is now 11. Blake coaches both of their soccer teams. Kate grew up in Lyndon where her father has acreage. Blake, Kate and the girls frequently visit there to go four-wheeling and fish in the ponds. When Blake and Kate go golfing, Annastyn and Frankie like to go along and take turns driving the golf cart. In his free time, Blake enjoys helping friends and family with any projects where he can be of assistance.

Glad to Help

“I go home in a good mood when a customer’s house was super-hot or cold, and I fixed their system, so the family is comfortable again – especially when kids are there,” Blake said. “Some of our senior customers need a little extra help with changing a high light bulb, or putting away a hose for the winter. It feels great to do those little things before I go.” Blake is simply a friendly guy who is glad to help others. Blake has always been willing to receive and offer help, learn as much as possible – on and off the job – and give back to everyone he can. McElroy’s is pleased that Blake Schwartz has been a smart, growing member of our team for a decade, and we look forward to his continuing contributions!